22/06/2013 20:39Belarus and Turkey score wins on second day of action in Ra'anana2013 CEV Volleyball European League - Men

Ra’anana, Israel, June 22, 2013. On Saturday Belarus and Turkey claimed their respective matches at Metrowest sports hall in Ra’anana in the second day of second round action in Pool C of the 2013 CEV Volleyball European League – Men. Belarus beat Pool leaders Croatia 3:1 (21-18, 19-21, 21-19, and 21-18) while Turkey downed the hosts of Israel in three straight sets (22-20, 22-20, and 21-18). With these results Croatia and Turkey top the tables in the group with 10 points, with Belarus coming up strong with 8 after their second win of the weekend. After edging Turkey on Friday, Belarus upset Croatia that was coming off a defeat to the young Israeli team. Belarus set the tone of the game in the first set (12:10) and even though Croatia did fight back to 15 all, Siarhei Antanovich contributed three set balls for his side (20:17) and the second chance for the 1:0 was cashed only a few moments later (21-18). Belarus went up also in the second set (12:8) and after a time-out and substitution – Ivan Cosic joined the game – Croatia could level the score at 16 all. After another tie at 18, Croatia changed gear and could make it 21-19 and 1:1 in sets. Belarus looked very determined in the third set setting the pace at 6:4 but Ivan Raic killed a few spikes to make it 10:8 for Croatia. Belarus flipped the charts round and broke away in the score (14:10, 19:16) closing it at 21-19. In the fourth set the score remained very close up to 12 all before Belarus got momentum and could power to their second consecutive win in Ra’anana (21-18, 3:1). Croatia’s Ivan Raic top scored in the game with 16 points while Antanovich paced Belarus with 15.

In the other match of the day, Turkey routed Israel in three straight sets. Actually Israel opened very strong going up 5:1 in the first set and 8:4 before Turkey fired back to re-open the fate of the game. Israel set the pace at the technical time-out (12:9) but Turkey responded well and though Israel went again to the front with a spike killed by Guy Ben Gal (18:16), Turkey did not lose focus and finished it off at 22-20. Things followed a similar plot in the second set with Israel going up 5:3 and 7:4 before a neck-to-neck race unfolded after the technical time-out. The final rush of the set was really dramatic and after a tie at 20 all, Turkey claimed the next two points resisting to a very good performance by Israeli star Ben Gal. After another close start (10 all), Turkey changed gear after the technical time-out of set 3 (16:12) and even though Israel closed the gap to a minimum (15:16), Turkey did not lose control of the operations and could wrap it up in straight sets (21-18).
“We lost most of our points due to our own mistakes” says Israeli coach Zohar Bar Netzer. “Even though we showed good things in this game this is a good lesson to take for my young players”.
“We have got a young team and we are improving match after match. The Israelis are young too and they have a great potential” comments Turkey’s captain Sinan Cem Tanik.